… All strategic actions required for effective takeoff of academic activities has commenced in the institution – VC UNILESA, Prof. Asaolu
For a University to achieve success, the management must be prudent in the management of available resources.
These were the words of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Achievers University, Owo, Hon. Dr Bode Ayorinde while delivering a keynote address at the Capacity Building workshop for Management and Senior Staff of University of Ilesha, Osun State on Monday 19th June 2023.
University of Ilesa was recently established by the Osun State Government.
“Generally, prudence in the management of available resources is more pronounced in private universities, followed by State Universities. Of course, you know that the operators of the Federal Universities are senior boys,” Ayorinde said.
Ayorinde who identified 15 ways to achieving success by a University, emphasized that nothing meaningful can be achieved in any endeavour without adequate funding.
He added that funding is very key particularly for massive infrastructural development and regular payment of salaries in the University.
“Funding is the blood that flows in the arteries of universities without which universities can not function.
“The Federal Government takes the lead as regards funding of university education in Nigeria, followed by some State Universities. Private universities are established by their owners while their growth and development are funded by their customers (parents) and financial institutions through term loans.
“Some State Universities are already toeing the line of private universities. For example, the Technical University Ibadan, owned by Oyo State Government, and University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, owned by the Ondo State Government, both charge fees like private universities,” Ayorinde said.
On the debate over the proliferation of Universities in the country, Ayorinde disclosed that his opinion is that more tertiary institutions should be established, while hinging his argument on the need to provide more opportunities for people’s minds to be liberated by education.
The legal practitioner in his closing remarks urged the management and staff of University of Ilesa led by Professor Taiwo Asaolu to work together with sincerity and integrity.
“I am persuaded for good reasons that you will succeed. Bring about the full weight of your experiences to bear on your individual assignments so that you can contribute your quota to the overall achievement of the University goals and objectives. When you work together in all sincerity and with integrity, success is achieved and we shall all celebrate our achievements as real achievers,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Asaolu noted that all strategic actions required for effective takeoff of academic activities has commenced in the institution.
“This includes the process of curriculum development and establishing official relationship with statutory bodies crucial to us as an academic institution, such as JAMB, NUC, TETFund, Federal Ministry of Education among others.
“Regular assessments of facilities and equipment are also being carried out in preparation for the NUC resource verification, which is coming up very soon,” he said.
According to Prof. Asaolu, the workshop is part of the strategic actions as it is imperative to build the capacities of management staff and indeed all the staff of the University, whether academic or non-teaching staff, in preparation for the great task ahead.
“The training is aimed at helping our staff to have a good understanding of the working of a University system. I must state that this shall be a continuous exercise as other categories of staff would be exposed to regular training and re-training programmes.
“You will all recall that Management recently invited three (3) erudite University scholars for an interactive session with all our academic staff to assist and mentor them in the areas of linkages and collaboration; research funding and grantsmanship; and sourcing for credible publishing outlets that can improve their academic visibilities and pedigrees and also enhance the University’s webometric ranking.
“I am happy to report that some of our lecturers really benefitted from this initiative and are taking full advantage of the information they were exposed to during the programme. I am also happy to report that the University Management recently approved some guidelines for sponsorship of staff to off-site conferences and workshops towards ensuring that our staff are regularly trained and re-trained.
“I urge participants to take full advantage of this training by participating actively in it. Management has committed huge resources into it and we have the privilege of the training being facilitated by experienced and accomplished University Administrators.
“It is my sincere hope that at the end of the training workshop, we would have acquired new knowledge and skills that would be beneficial to us as individuals and for the betterment of our University.”
The University of Ilesa, Osun State was officially recognized by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday, 10th November, 2022, as the 60th State-owned University and 220th University in the Nigerian University system.
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